Welcome &
Introduction
Today’s
open house
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Purpose of open house
General Plan 101
Team, scope, & schedule
Progress to date
Next steps
1
Purpose of open house
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Learn about citywide plans
Understand city responsibilities
Obtain public input on issues & opportunities
Generate ideas for the future
Engage the Rossmoor community
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General Plan 101
What is a general plan?
 Every city/county in California must prepare a
comprehensive plan for how it will evolve and
grow in the future (next 15─20 yrs)
 Called a General Plan, it contains policies that
are the basis for land use decisions and
capital improvements
 Guides city council, commissions, and staff
What a general plan isn’t
 It is not zoning
Zoning implements general plan policy and dictates precisely what
you can/cannot do on an individual property
 It is not design guidelines
Although a general plan can contain policies regarding
site/community design, design guidelines cover detailed issues like
building elements or façade design
 It does not focus on short term actions
While a general plan will consider short term issues and actions, the
overall emphasis is on long term changes and improvement
What does the
general plan address?
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7 elements required by state law
Growth management element
Optional elements and topics
City and sphere of influence (Rossmoor)
1/7
Land Use
MAJOR TOPICS
- Compatibility of uses
- Balance/mix of uses
- Intensity of buildings
- Opportunity areas
2/7
Circulation
MAJOR TOPICS
- Efficient roadways
- Infrastructure systems
- Bicycle/transit/pedestrian access
3/7
Housing
MAJOR TOPICS
- Supply/diversity of
housing options
- Housing assistance
- Regulatory obstacles
- Special needs
* Already updated
4/7
Open Space & Rec
MAJOR TOPICS
- Parks & recreation needs
- Community facilities
- Trails & easements
- Joint use facilities and
opportunities
5/7
Conservation
MAJOR TOPICS
- Historic & cultural
resources
- Air & water quality
- Natural resources
6/7
Safety
MAJOR TOPICS
- Police & fire
- Natural hazards
- Emergency readiness
- Hazardous materials
7/7
Noise
MAJOR TOPICS
- Roadway noise
- JFTB activities
- Noise-generating
land uses
reqd‘ for OC
Growth Management
MAJOR TOPICS
- Measure M
- Monitoring & mitigation
- Interjurisdictional &
regional cooperation
optional
Economic Development
MAJOR TOPICS
- Fiscal Sustainability
- Business development
& retention
- Reinvestment &
revitalization
Why is the GP so important?
 Planning vs reacting
We need to plan for opportunities instead of just reacting to them –
otherwise, we risk being ill-prepared and uncompetitive
 Long vs short term
We sometimes sacrifice long term benefits & objectives because of
short term concerns – improving our community may take time but
it is worth it
 State law/legal challenges
A general plan is required by state law and is the legal basis for land
use and circulation decisions
What are some
related plans?
 Capital improvement plans
(roads, sidewalks, landscaping,…)
 Other infrastructure master plans
(sewer, water, storm drainage,…)
 Regional plans
(OCTA bus service, highways and major roadways,…)
Who uses the
General Plan?
 City Council, commissions, and staff
 Individuals and businesses
 Investors and developers
3
Team | Scope | Schedule
Primary Team
City Staff
Steven Mendoza
Community Dev’t Director
Role
City Project Manager
Consultant Team
The Planning Center
Role
Consultant Project Manager
General Plan & EIR
Transportation
Infrastructure
Cultural/Arch Resources
Fehr & Peers
Fuscoe Engineering
Cogstone
Consultant
names/roles
Experience/Knowledge
 30+ GP/EIRs
 Useful/defensible EIRs
 Los Al Corridors Plan
 Pragmatic reputation
 Solution driven
 Military base use/reuse
Scope | Schedule
 18-20 month schedule
 Kickoff: August 2011
 Completion Goal: Spring 2013
2011
2012
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F M A M
2013
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Kickoff & Outreach
Aug–Sep 2011
 Meet with staff, Planning Commission,
and Tech Advisory Committee (TAC)
 Website
 Start public survey
 Fact sheet
| 2011
2012
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F M A M
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Outreach & Analysis
Oct–Dec 2011
 Community interviews
 Council & commission interviews
 TAC meeting
 Issues, opps, and constraints
| 2011
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2012
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2013
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Outreach & Land Plan
Jan–May 2012
 Community open houses
 TAC and focus group meetings
 Draft land use plan
 City staff study session
You are here
2011
| 2012
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2013
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Elements & EIR
Mar–Sep 2012
 Update General Plan elements
 City staff study session
 EIR scoping meeting
 Screencheck EIR | tech studies
2011
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| 2012
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F M A M
2013
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Draft EIR & GP
Aug–Dec 2012
 Public review period DEIR
 Draft General Plan
 Final TAC meeting
2011
2012
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F M A M
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| 2012
2013
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Hearings & Adoption
Nov 2012–Jan/Mar 2013
 Joint PC/CC study session
 Planning Commission [2]
 City Council [2]
2011
2012
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| 2013
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Progress to date
 Website launched
www.losalgeneralplan.org
 Project fact sheet created
 Public survey (short & long) started
 2 meetings with Tech Advisory Committee
4
Progress to date
 10 meetings with city commissions
(4 Planning, 3 Parks & Rec, 3 Traffic)
 26 Stakeholder interviews
(incl. 6 from Rossmoor)
 Initial Issues, opps, & constraints
 Open houses
5
Next steps
March – May 2012
 Hold 3 community open houses
 Finalize existing conditions analysis
 Meet with TAC & focus group
 Draft Land Use Plan
 EIR Scoping Meeting
Thank you!
Please provide us
with your input